The ORIGINAL Toy Story

A Disney Masterpiece – This label is used quite literally and undeservingly nowadays, mostly as a marketing tool. But every now and then Disney accomplishes just that, a masterpiece capturing the imagination and wonder of childhood in the form of a film.

“Winnie the Pooh” does just that. From its refreshing 2D animation, gripping story and exceptional voice talents (all but one being new to the world of Pooh). There is a lot going on in this film, we are presented with a contest, a rescue, a search and a dilemma all at different points in the 62 minute adventure but it never feels overbearing or rushed. It remains fun and innocent all the way though.

I was very pleased with the attention given to all the characters, each given their time to shine and carry the story(s) along. We are shown the value of friendship and team work with the lesson to never give up. This movie also proves a wholesome family friendly movie can be made that entertains children and their parents alike with out the double-entendres or adult humor that has become common place in so many animated films today. There is no question Disney wanted to shadow the look and feel of 1977’s “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” in which they succeeded.

As expected all problems and obstacles are overcome with the perfect ending prompting my four year olds standing ovation. The entire film has a familiar warm and fuzzy feeling to it, even to little ones being introduced to the friendly inhabitants of the Hundred-Acre Wood for the first time.

As a Disney tradition we are treated to a short film before the feature presentation in this case we are presented “The Ballad of Nessie”. We are told the tale of how Nessie and her best and only friend MacQuack the rubber duck come to find themselves living in what we now call Loch Ness. It is the sweet tale that I’m not ashamed to admit pulled at my heart strings. As much as I enjoyed “Winnie the Pooh”, I may have enjoyed this 8 minute treat more.

All in all, a much needed and appreciated breath of fresh air.


5 out of 5 stars

Mater, Tow Mater...

Media manipulation, torture, propaganda, organized crime, espionage and assassinations. No, these are not key elements to James Bond 23. Welcome back to the world of Disney/Pixar's Cars.

Cars 2 trades the originals charm and heart for bullets and bombs. We are introduced to Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) an Aston Martin DB5 working for Her Majesty's Secret Service infiltrating a oil rig in an opening scene that would make Ian Fleming proud. Cue an anti-oil, alternative fuel tycoon who sponsors a "World Cup" to promote his environmentally friendly "Allinol". Without giving much of the story away, our lovable Mater always eager to make new friends ends up over his head, entangled in the dangerous world of espionage.

What follows has to be a record for violence in a G rated film. Five minutes does not pass with out bullets flying, bombs exploding, someone being tortured or plotted against. There is a slight lesson about accepting someone as they are if you pay real close attention, which is hard to do especially for the target audience.

Don't get me wrong, I liked most of the movie, even though my wife and I were cringing at all the "kill him"s and the joy of seeing others in pain or being killed that is showed by the bad guys over and over. And lets not get into the Politically Correct Environmental Message being laid out for our innocent children to absorb. I digress.

We have many new Characters in the Cars universe that are quite entertaining, most notably "Francesco Bernoulli" a Formula 1 racecar whose confidence exceeds even that of Lightning McQueen's, leading to some entertaining banter between the two. The sharp eyed will also get a kick out of the minor/ background cars including a McLaren MP-412, Corvette Z06, numerous classic Italian and British cars and a Pope-Mobile riding in a Pope-Mobile.

All in all this film feels like it was made for the 6-8 year old children who enjoyed the first "Cars" back in 2006 and are now 11-13, not for the sweet, innocent 4-8 year olds. The children might like it for the action and excitement, but parents like myself will feel bad to exposing their kids to what they don't and shouldn't comprehend yet. I think my family will re-watch the original "Cars" this week to bring back that warm and fuzzy feeling that was lost with "Cars 2".

2 out of 5 for Children
3.5 out of 5 for 13 and up.

The Games Afoot!

From the opening when horses strongly gallop on screen, through the gray skies and industrial grime of the exteriors and the dinginess of most of the interiors, this Sherlock Holmes is grittier and much more raw then its predecessors--a Holmes for the millennium.

Robert Downey's Holmes is a brilliant brat. He borrows Watson's clothes without permission, insults Watson's fiance at their first meeting, and drives Mrs. Hudson to her wits' ends, but he's also a guy who knows his way around a boxing ring and the one you want on your side when facing doom in the form of Lord Blackwood, an executed murderer who resurfaces at the head of a black magic cult bent on world domination.

Jude Law's Watson is an understated sidekick to the flamboyant Holmes, his portrayal is much more inline with the literary Watson than has been seen on screen before. It's fun to watch the verbal sparring and exasperation which underlying affection makes sparkling rather than mean. The supporting cast is excellent including the wonderful Rachel McAdams, who as I think about it has been wonderful in every role I've seen her in. The movie plays very smooth and engaging to the viewers. When Holmes explains how the crimes were carried out, we realize we saw the same clues at the same time he did. It's all elementary.

This Sherlock Holmes is neither Jeremy Brett nor Basil Rathbone. Viewers who expect to settle into a predictable detective yarn will be disappointed. This Holmes is edgy, action packed and slightly uncomfortable, but more believable because of it. It's smart and atmospheric, and well worth seeing in the dark with your speakers turned up as it will draw you in to the intriguing world of Sherlock Holmes. Nothing Escapes Him.

5 Stars

The Top 25 Villains of the Silver Screen

Here is a list of my top 25 villains of all time in no particular order.

The Shark - JAWS

Simon Gruber - Jeremy Irons, Die Hard with a Vengeance

Norman Bates - Anthony Perkins, Psycho

Lex Luthor - Gene Hackman, Superman

Joker - Jack Nicholson, Batman

Jack Torrance - Jack Nicholson, The Shining

HAL 9000 - Douglas Rain (voice), 2001: A Space Odyssey

Dr. Evil - Mike Myers, Austin Powers series

Dark Helmet - Rick Moranis, Spaceballs

Terminator - Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Terminator

T-1000 - Robert Patrick, Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Captain Barbossa - Geoffrey Rush, Pirates of the Carribean series

Biff Tannen - Thomas F. Wilson, Back to the Future series

Walter Peck - William Atherton, Ghostbusters

Dr. René Belloq - Paul Freeman, Raiders of the Lost Ark

Jafar - Jonathan Freeman (voice), Aladdin

Sheriff of Nottingham - Robin Hood movies

Agent Smith - Hugo Weaving, The Matrix series

Alex - Malcolm McDowell, A Clockwork Orange

Ed Rooney - Jeffrey Jones, Ferris Bueller's Day Off

The Alien - The Alien series

Jack Frost - Martin Short, The Santa Clause 3

White Witch - Tilda Swinton, The Chronicles of Narnia

Irina Spalko - Cate Blanchett, Indiana Jones 4

Major Toht - Ronald Lacey, Raiders of the Lost Ark

Do we need a remake of "The Karate Kid"?


No. Granted I have only seen the trailer for this movie but I can tell it lacks the charm and heart of the original 1984 classic. I like Will Smith and most of his movies but I feel this is is the result of his son not being able to land an acting job on his (name) alone. So Will and Jada push through a unasked for remake of a 1980's blockbuster as producers to give their son a leading role. And Jackie Chan as Mr. Miyagi, sorry but no. What I'm trying to say is after seeing this trailer even The Karate Kid 3 looks superior.

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